::
[ 1929 Chevrolet Series L.Q. 1.5 Ton Trucks with custom
made bodies
] ::
as used by Lord and Lady Brocklehurst to cross the Sahara in 1930.

(Photos below the text.)

===============================================================QUESTION : Hi,
Hoping you might be able to help. I am a member of a small history
society on the Cheshire/Staffordshire border. We are giving a talk about
a trip the local lord of the manor (Sir Philip Brocklehurst) undertook
with his wife and a mechanic across the Sahara in 1930 (the first convoy
of fewer than 3 cars). We have been trying to identify the cars they
used and came across your website during the search as it has two fairly
similar looking vehicles (1928 Chevrolet GMC and 1932 Chevrolet LT).
Lady Brocklehurst kept a diary and she says they were British built
Chevrolets, and was at pains to point out their Britishness. Whilst she
normally calls them cars, on a couple of occasions she refers to them as
light lorries. Having found Chevrolets on the internet we are coming
round to the idea they were indeed some sort of light truck, but as yet
have not positively identified them. I attach a few photos of them on
their journey, and can supply more if it helps. Many thanks for your
time. Alan Weeks
===============================================================ANSWER
: Hi, Thanks your Email and the interesting
photos. We have now had an opportunity to study the photos and can
advise with the help of our friends at the AACA we can confirm that the
vehicles were indeed Chevrolets. With all the hub bolts on the rear they
are 1.5 ton trucks. The vehicles are therefore 1929 Chevrolet Series L.Q.
1.5 ton trucks with custom made bodies. The UK registration dates them
to Autumn 1929, registered by the London County Council. This would tie
in with the 1930 expedient date. These would have been sold as
"cowl and chassis" and would have custom made cabs. "75
Years of Chevrolet" has a page (p.84) of British bodied Chevrolet
trucks but these trucks are not shown. The wing mounted lights mark them
out as British built models. Interesting steam recovery condensing
radiator cap on one of the vehicles! The diamond tread tires are
Goodyear. Interesting device mounted above the bumper. Thoughts that it
might be a winch or power take off, but more interestingly, suggestion
that it could be an engine driven generator to provide electricity to
power lights at night or to run other items in the camp. Hope this
proves of interest. Kind Regards
===============================================================
Bozi, What wonderful information, just what we'd hoped for. What great
experts you are too! Thank you - and your friends - ever so much. Well
give the SVVS a mention at the talk. I had to look up what was meant by
"cowl and chassis" but as I understand it now it's just the
bonnet + chassis; hence you saying the cab - and presumably the rear,
luggage area - was customer built. Well, he would have had the money!
Regarding couple of the other points you make: The condensing radiator
caps: We wondered what they were. They were at times on both vehicles,
and don't appear in all photos, so must have been detachable. Lady B
remarks many times that the radiators boiled, and much of the water they
carried with them was used for the cars. We assume that's why they had
them. They weren't apparently very effective either. The device above
the bumper: We think it's probably not for camp lights as Lady B says
they ate by headlight at times. However, early on she says at one point
that Phil had left his car switched on all night, and in consequence the
battery was run down. They had to start it on the auxiliary magneto, -
excellent design. We weren't sure what a magneto was but could that be
it, do you think? Lady B also says that the Chevs finished their journey
of 5381 miles in splendid condition. The only spare we had used was one
valve spring; otherwise they had no need to open the bonnets. Never the
slightest trouble starting up in the mornings, and the engines were
always giving of their best on the entire journey. She averaged 18 miles
to the gallon for the entire distance; and Phil slightly less, 12 to 14.
Only one puncture all the way. The Chevrolet has again given a lead by
being the first cars to come through from Algiers to Khartumn Alan Weeks
===============================================================Hi, Thanks your email and the interesting info.
The mention of the magneto doesn't not help much on the device over the
bumper. There are two ways of creating a spark in an engine. One is to
have a battery and a coil with two windings converting low volt battery
power to high volt spark power. Earlier vehicles had a magneto which was
a little dynamo type device as part of the engine which generated its
own spark as it turned. Some posh cars like Rolls Royce had them both
because (flat) battery use makes it less guaranteed although more
efficient. It would be necessary to switch from one to the other. Thinking
about it..... perhaps Chevs did not have the facility/space inside
the bonnet so this was an external bolt on extra??! Normal magnetos were
about the size of a small loaf of bread and had to be accurately timed
to the turning engine. There does seem to be a drive from the crank are
into the device. Will look into. Seems the Chevs were reliable vehicles.
Shame about the condensing rad caps though. Kind Regards
===============================================================
Hi Bozi, I've read through the diary again and found another reference
to the magneto which supports the idea that it is indeed the contraption
we can see on the bumper in the photos. Lady B says: P.'s radiator is
leaking, but we can't mend it till we have more time as the magneto is
in the way. On a separate topic but one I thought might interest you she
says: The Sultan is very keen on motors and drives himself in a Ford
coupé. He was most interested in our cars and was especially delighted
with the power tyre pumps. I certainly didn't realise they had power
pumps s in those days. As they let their tyres down regularly to cross
the sand in places, they were obviously very useful. Thanks again for
your help. Alan
===============================================================
Hi, Can you tell me a bit about Lord and Lady B and the reasons for the
trip. My friends in US sound interested. Could the external gizmo be the
tyre pump?? - not the Magneto ! I will ask them, so info on Lord and
Lady B would be useful. Regards Bozi
===============================================================
Hi Bozi, Thanks again for your reply and interesting suggestion -
certainly if it was the pump on the front then it could easily be driven
by the engine. That would mean the magneto was under the bonnet behind
the radiator somewhere. Any ideas how we could get a definitive answer?
Re the reason for the journey, I'm afraid we don't really know. Nothing
is stated in the diary about it. Our speculation was they did it because
they were adventurers. Certainly Philip was - he'd already been from
Sudan to Kano in Northern Nigeria by horse and boat when he was in the
army (he was stationed in Sudan after WW1). And Lady B mentions they'd
been together to the Sudan in 1925. And we think a few more times as
well. Philip's brother was also Game Warden in the Sudan for 10 years at
least and was there in 1930. Philip also went with Shackleton on his
first expedition to Antarctica. He loved cars too so we think this
journey was a combination of these two things he loved. Alan
===============================================================
Hi, Had a couple of interesting replies to the Pump item. One of our USA
colleagues said that many larger early autos in the USA from the mid
1900's up into the 20's had an air compressor attached below the
floorboards that could be shifted in and out of gear if air was
required. Another contributor provided a picture of an advertisement and
added: I don't know if this air pump accessory that appears on both of
my cars is the sort of compressor to which you are making reference. The
same style pump, made by Kellog, is mounted on the side of the
transmission on both my cars. The cars are a '28 Packard and a '29
Lincoln. The Packard accessory catalog for '28 has a clear picture of
the pump. The long shaft extends through the floorboard and allows the
engagement of the pump gear by a twist of that shaft on both cars. The
Lincoln Manual gives instruction on its engagement and operation. 1000
engine rpm in neutral is recommended as a speed for the pump.All this
would suggest that the gizmo on the front of the car is probably the
Magneto and that the Pump is under the floorboards. Kind Regards===============================================================